However, at this stage, the details are sketchy with Police Media unable to reveal the specifics.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, APM, and Deputy Commissioner Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys today announced a new policing model for regional NSW as part of re-engineering.

The current 34 Local Area Commands in regional NSW will be replaced by 26 Police Districts (see attached list).

Police Districts will have a District Superintendent with varying spans of control, while each District will incorporate an ‘Officer-in-Charge’ model for each of its police stations.

Commissioner Fuller said designing a unique policing model for regional NSW has been a priority of re-engineering.

"A large aspect of re-engineering is putting more police back on the frontline and a flexible workforce is a good outcome for regional communities," he said.

“The new Police District model has been designed to significantly improve our capability to service Regional NSW.

“The Police Districts will be supported by the new Region Enforcement Squads based at Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth and Coffs-Clarence and the new Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team in Western Region.

“Policing in regional and rural communities differs greatly from the city and our approach recognises the unique needs and challenges of both models.”

Deputy Commissioner Worboys said regional and rural communities want to know who their local police are and importantly who is in charge of their police station.

“We will see a return to the officer in charge model throughout regional police stations overseen by a Commander at the District office,” he added.

“This model allows for a more dynamic and flexible approach to investigations, proactive operations and focussing on important community issues like domestic and family violence and mid-level drug supply.

“Police who live and work in regional towns are often heavily involved in the local community. Their job is enhanced by being part of that community.”

The Orana Mid-Western Police District is the first of the new Police Districts to commence next month.

The following districts will be progressively switched on over the coming months with a completion date of early next year.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys will detail local arrangements in each of the new Police Districts as they commence under the new structure.

New Police Districts:

The remaining 14 Local Area Commands will be renamed Police Districts:

• Barrier *

• Brisbane Water

• Chifley ^

• Coffs / Clarence

• Lake Illawarra

• Lake Macquarie

• Manning / Great Lakes

• Mid North Coast

• Monaro

• Newcastle City

• Richmond

• Tuggerah Lakes

• Tweed / Byron

• Wollongong